Thursday, September 6, 2018

Turkey vultureCathartes aura
If you’ve gone looking for raptors on a clear day, your heart has
probably leaped at the sight of a large, soaring bird in the distance–
perhaps an eagle or osprey. But if it's soaring with its wings raised in
a V and making wobbly circles, it's likely a Turkey Vulture. These
birds ride thermals in the sky and use their keen sense of smell to find
fresh carcasses.... The oldest recorded Turkey Vulture was at least 16
years, 10 months old when it was found in Ohio, the same state where it
had been banded. (All About Birds)

Canada proposes more habitat protection for southern-resident orcas
Canada is taking steps to expand habitat protection for killer whales to
boost survival of the critically endangered southern-resident
population. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced
Wednesday the department is initiating a 60-day comment period on
creating new areas of critical habitat for the whales. One area is off
the coast of southwestern Vancouver Island, including Swiftsure and La
Pérouse banks (important for both northern and southern residents). The
other is in Dixon Entrance, along the north coast of Graham Island from
Langara to Rose Spit (important for northern residents). The move to
expand habitat protection comes on top of a reduction by the department
of chinook salmon harvest by up to 35 percent for the 2018 fishing
season, with a full closure of commercial and recreational fish for
chinook in three key foraging areas for the southern residents: the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Gulf Islands and the mouth of the Fraser
River. These measures, enacted June 1, will continue until Sept. 30, and
include increased monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the
closures. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Lawsuit demands federal departments act to protect southern resident killer whales
Six conservation groups have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court over the
Canadian government's failure to issue an emergency order to protect
B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whales. The application names
the federal fisheries and environment ministers as respondents and asks
for a court order compelling the government to recommend emergency
protection for the whales and their habitat. Bethany Lindsay reports.
(CBC)

Puget Sound Action Agenda makes a shift in restoration strategy
Puget Sound Partnership has honed its high-level game plan for restoring
the Puget Sound ecosystem, including a sharp focus on 10 “vital signs”
of ecological health. The newly released draft of the Puget Sound Action
Agenda has endorsed more than 600 specific “near-term actions” designed
to benefit the ecosystem in various ways. Comments on the plan will be
accepted until Oct. 15. Visit the Partnership’s webpage to view the
Draft Action Agenda and access the comments page. Chris Dunagan reports.
(Watching Our Water Ways)

Trudeau considering an appeal or legislation to end Trans Mountain impasse
A week after the Federal Court of Appeal quashed cabinet approval of the
Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau said Wednesday his government is looking at all options to get
construction back on track — including an appeal of the ruling and new
legislation. Speaking to reporters in Edmonton, Trudeau said he wants to
see "shovels in the ground as quickly as possible" because the project
is in the country's best interests, adding he also wants to satisfy the
court's concerns to avoid further litigation. Jon Paul Tasker
reports.(CBC)

6 protesters arrested after anti-fish farm demonstration in Victoria
Six protesters were arrested after a demonstration against fish farms at
a shipyard in Victoria early Wednesday. The group boarded the
dry-docked Orca Chief vessel in the Point Hope shipyard around
7:30 a.m. PT. The boat is owned by Marine Harvest, which owns and
operates several fish farms on the B.C. coast. (CBC)

US accused of planning crackdown on pipeline protests
Civil liberties advocates sued the U.S. government Tuesday, alleging law
enforcement agencies have been making preparations to crack down on
anticipated protests over the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Attorneys for
the American Civil Liberties Union and its Montana affiliate filed the
lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula against the Defense, Homeland
Security, Interior and Justice departments. They asked the court to
order the release of all documents about cooperation over the pipeline
between federal, state and local law enforcement and private security
companies. Matthew Brown reports. (Associated Press)

Big drought prompts surprises in this flowery hotspot
A new look at the historic drought that struck California from 2012 to
2015 reveals some unexpected results—and uncovers patterns that may be
relevant to climate change. Researchers tracked 423 species in the
Carrizo Plain National Monument, a little-known ecological hotspot in
Southern California, that though small, explodes in wildflowers each
spring and is full of threatened or endangered species. “The Carrizo
Plain is one of the global hotspots of endangered species, with
endangered species at every trophic level: plants, rodents, carnivores,”
says lead author Laura Prugh, an assistant professor of quantitative
wildlife sciences in the University of Washington School of
Environmental and Forest Sciences. “It also is an ideal laboratory to
see how an exceptional climate event affects a whole ecosystem.” Hannah
Hickey reports. (Futurity)

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Salish Sea Communications provides communications and public relations services that raise visibility and engage audiences. Drawing on over 30 years experience in private, public and not-for-profit work, Mike Sato brings to you his skills and insights in developing and carrying out your print, electronic and social media projects and products. "I've been in the communications business since 1977 starting with community weekly newspapers then working for Seattle City Light, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Hawaiian Electric Company and, for 20 years, People For Puget Sound." Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told. WA State UBI #601395482